Apparatus fob generating gas



MATTHIAS P. GOONS, OF BROOKLYN, NEIV YORK.

APPARATUS FOR GENERATING GAS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 23,828, dated May 3, 1859.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MATTI-IIAS P. CooNs, of the city of Brooklyn, countyof Kings, and State of New York, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Apparatus for Generating Illuminating-Gas, and may alsobe used for other purposes; and I do hereby declare that the followingis a clear, full, and exact description of the construction andoperation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings,making a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a perspectiveView of the entire arrangement of the apparatus, conducting pipes,gasometer &c. Fig. 2 a longitudinal sectional elevation.

The nature of my invention consists in the construction combination andarrangement of an apparatus for generating gas while at the same time itmay be used for other purposes, and by which different qualities ofilluminating gas may be generated from different classes of materials atthe same time, and in its peculiar ar-- rangement and construction, itis made portable, and convenient of transportation. And it will be seenthat by -its peculiar construction and arrangement the apparatus may beindefinitely extended in its capacity for generating gas.

I construct my retorts in separate and distinct parts two of which forman oblong represented by Fig. 5, A A and when two are only used they areunited as represented by Fig. 2. I would here state that the object inhaving a plurality of retorts is that gas maybe generated from differentmaterials at the same time and each quality of gas may be conducted intocoolers or purifiers as they may severally require and also for theconvenience of extending the generatingv capacity-for example hydrogenand bicarbureted gas may be generated at the same time the one requiresto be conducted into a washer or cooler whilethe other is dischargeddirectly into the holder and as wood of all species can be used allanimal matter, animal vegetable or mineral oilsmineral coal cotton andother seed.

Each of the retorts are supplied with a separate mouth piece and thegenerating chamber being enlarged as represented by 2, 2, and by Fig. 3.The generating chamber and the barrel of the retort are cast in separateparts as shown by 3, 4 so as to extend the heating surfacethese partsare united as in the usual manner in such cases.

follows each having corresponding projecting flanges. I place betweenthese parts a rim plate in form of Fig. 5, having upon its outer edge aT flange corresponding in width with and fitting the other flanges whileat the same time it also projects inwardly for the purpose of a rest forthe diaphragm Fig. 11, the cap piece or cover being a full plate of sameform with projecting L flange also fitting the projecting flange on thetop rim of the retort represented by 6 and are then secured to eachother by packing and screw bolts as is usual in similar cases, by whichmeans the several retorts are securedto each other and placed over onefire chamber and incased by sheet iron and inlaid with brick When anenlargement and extension of the capacity for generating gas is requiredI insert and secure in the same manner as described one or more squareretorts between the retorts just described in form as represented byFig. 7, 7 one a side view the other front view. Thus it will be seenthat the capacity for the generation of gas may be almost indefinitelyextended and no other alterations required except the plates Figs. 5 and6.

Having thus described the external contion gas generating retort I willnow proceed to describe the nature of the internal arrangementconstruction and operation of the same.

lVhen I operate a retort with two chambers and generate hydrogen gasfrom wood in one retort or chamber and fatty or oily matter in the otherI conduct the gas from wood into a tank of water and from thence intothe holder while at the same time the gas from the latter is conducteddirectly into the'holder and if I use more chambers and use other andmore materials my arrangement admits of washing or purifying such gasesas may require it, while at the same time others not requiring it may beconducted direct into the holder thereby a saving of gas is effected.

It is well known that all fatty (oily) resinous glutinous or saccharinematter produces while in a state of combustion oily tarry and acidfluids which escape with the gas generated and is separated by the Wholebeing conducted into purifying tanks by which much of the gas generatedis lost as well as a loss of material and in their discharge produce anunhealthy as well as an unpleasant odor, and for the purpose ofobviating that difiiculty, and also to prevent the unpleasant elfectsproduced by the emission of gas and smoke issuing from the fusionchamber on opening its mouthpiece I have invented a purifying diaphragmand by its arrangement also admits the escape of all gaseous and othercombustible matter which may remain in the retort, into the chimney thuspreventing its escaping through the mouthpiece into the room. Aperspective view of which is represented by Figs. 8 and 11, and asectional elevation by Fig. 9 and a transverse section by Fig. 10. Thisdiaphragm consists of a conical tube having at its base a flange or ringattached, corresponding in form and dimensions to the inside of thebarrel of the retort, to the outer edge of which is a rim thus forming acup as represented by Fig. 11 in the center of which is the conical tubeas represented by e, at the upper end of this cone and attached theretois a chamber in diameter equal to the base of the tube, and ofcorresponding height the particular form is not material but haveselected the form as represented by Fig. 9, at the junction of the upperend of the tube and chamber and on the inside is a gutter or trough asrepresented by 12, having a discharge pipe attached as represented byZ). And at the upper extremity of this chamber is attached an escapepipe as represented by Fig. 8, and 0, by which it will be seen that adirect communication is obtained between the generating chamber and thechimney for the purpose as heretofore stated. It will also be seen thatthe pipe communicates with the trough and generating chamber. flange orbottom of this cup is perforated with numerous small holes and I preparea series of thickly perforated plates in form fitting the inner side ofthe cup as represented by, (Z, at the bottom of this cup I place a layerof cellular packing composed of metal scraps, lava, or some othersubstance of a similar nature and upon this layer I place a plate, (Zand again a layer of cellu lar packing and so alternate until the cup isfilled as represented by, c.

Having thus constructed and arranged my diaphragm it is inserted intothe barrel of the retort and rests upon plate, 5. When the cover Fig. 6is properly packed and se- The cured, the gas pipes being attached andthe escape pipes are inserted into the chimney and supplied with stopcocks as shown by C Fig. l, the apparatus is then prepared foroperation.

Having now endeavored to minutely describe the entire arrangement of myinvention' I will now endeavor to describe its practical operation. Itwill be observed that the arrangement of the diaphragm with thealternate layers of cellular packing with the intermediate plates beingperforated with minute holes and. the cellular packing producing itsmillions of heat radiating points and though being cellular or porousyet semicompact, through which the gas can only escape all matter notfully decomposed is forced upward into the chamber Fig. 9. This chamberbeing of a lower degree of temperature than the generating chamber orcellular packing it becomes a condensing chamber and thus all decomposedmatter is concentrated upon the inner walls of this chamber and runsdown into the trough and from thence either into the retort and againsubmitted to the action of heat or conducted outside at pleasure. Thepractical operation and effects of the escape pipes C have beendescribed and thus it will be seen that this entire arrangement may bepractically operated in any and all places desired without the usualannoyance of the emission of smoke and unpleasant and unhealthy odors.

I do not claim the use of a perforated diaphragm as a means of purifyinggas nor the connection of said diaphragm to a retort except when thesame is combined as set forth but \Vhat I do claim as my invention anddeside to secure by Letters Patent is l. The form and mode ofarrangement of the retorts as specified for the purpose of combining aseries of gas generating retorts as combined for extending ordiminishing its capacity of generating gas indefinitely in the mannerspecified.

2. I also claim the combination of a diaphragm surrounding a condensingchamber an escape pipe, the whole arranged and 0perated as set forth anddescribed.

MATTHIAS P. COONS.

Witnesses ALLAN RUTHERFORD, VVILLIAM. RAYNER.

